Bayern use FIFA threat over Hargreaves

Sunday 22 January 2006 00:08 BST

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has threatened to report Manchester United to FIFA if the English club do not end their pursuit of Owen Hargreaves.

Bayern on Friday told United "in no uncertain terms" to end their interest in the England midfielder. However, the Red Devils continue to chase the 25-year-old and Hargreaves himself has failed to accept the German club's decision not to listen to any offers.

"We have told Manchester United to drop their interest, or we will have to turn to FIFA," he told Munich's Tz newspaper. "A club can only contact a player when the club, who owns the player's registration, is in agreement."

He added: "We are not Hamburg, who let Khalid Boulahrouz go at the first sign he wants out. We are FC Bayern.

"We do not just let anybody go - the employer decides here, not the employee."